Deadline for oil bids to be decided after Friday, PM says
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The government will wait for the results of the public forum this Friday before deciding on a new deadline for the submission of bids for the 21st round of oil and gas exploration and production concessions, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Monday
It has already extended the deadline from February 18 but prefers to wait until all parties concerned have reached a joint understanding on the matter.
“The date to which the deadline will be extended will depend on the results of the public forum to be held this Friday at the Government House,” Prayut said.
He stressed that the discussions on Friday would focus on facts and would be based on the national benefits and interest. He hopes that with the government providing both the opportunity and the forum, both opponents and proponents will turn up for the debate.
“If they do not come, I will regard this as their refusal to listen to each other,” said Prayut.
He added that if the issue were to be delayed until an elected government was in place, the country’s attempts to save energy resources would be indefinitely delayed.
“I hope that the Friday forum will enable all groups to understand the need for the country to map out an energy plan,” he said.
